A Rooftop View of Europe

When you design your clients’ exploration of a city, it’s not a bad idea to think like a photo journalist assembling a portfolio of destination photographs. In order to create an experience with perspective, you need to do as the photographer does when he or she combines detail shots, middle range shots and expansive panoramas.

That means combining micro experiences (small shops, home stays, and specialty restaurants), walks in the park or a museum for mid-range perspective, and finally a panoramic experience of the city. Going through my notes and talking to friends I’ve put together a list of panoramic places that you can add to your itineraries in eight popular European cities. These may help add a little perspective to your itineraries.

Berlin: This city’s Dachgarten-Restaurant on top of the Reichstag is recommended as the easiest way to get access to the iconic dome. The dome’s rooftop restaurant is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to midnight, and tables can be reserved in advance by emailing kaeferreservierung.berlin@feinkost-kaefer.de. The rooftop terrace of Berlin’s Hotel de Rome, which features lounge chairs, cool drinks and an amazing view of Bebelplatz, also comes highly recommended. It is open daily from noon to 10 p.m. between April and October, weather permitting.

Istanbul: This city has several roofs with a view. Mikla, located on the roof of the Marmara Pera Hotel, is one of the city’s most elegant dining venues and has wonderful skyline views. If you are looking for a hip bar high up in Istanbul, consider 360 Istanbul, whose name says it all. This rooftop lounge offers a view that takes in Topkapi Palace and Sultanahmet. The bar’s central location on Istiklal Street makes it popular with the young night life crowd in Istanbul, who come for the sunset cocktails and modern Turkish cuisine as well as the DJ.

Paris: There are several food and beverage outlets in the Eiffel Toweroffering the most famous panoramic views of Paris. Among them is Le Jules-Verneis operated by Chef Alain Ducasse. Of course, the problem with viewing Paris from the Eiffel Tower is that you can’t see the Eiffel Tower. For that try Restaurant Les Ombres, which makes you feel like you can touch the Eiffel Tower.

Athens: Thanks to the Parthenon, one of the world’s most beautiful pieces of architecture, Athens will always be a magic city. No matter where you are in town, you’re always turning a corner and noticing the Parthenon in the distance. The best place to view the Parthenon from a distance is on Lycabettus Hill. Your clients can take the funicular train up from the hip Kolonaki District and find their way to Orizontes, one of the better restaurants in Athens.

Granada: With its romance of exiled kings and kingdoms, the mysterious Alhambra and the spirit of Garcia Lorca haunting it, Granada is as romantic a city has Spain has to offer. The terrace of the Alhambra Grand Hotel, located on the grounds of the Alhambra, is a popular place to have a drink, a meal and look across the city.

Madrid: This city’s La Terraza del Urban restaurant, atop the Hotel Urban, offers a great menu and the best place in the city to get a bird’s eye view with a cocktail. Cocktails begin at 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and dinner is served from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Rome: For more than 120 years, drinking or dining at the Hotel Eden’sTerrace Bar and its adjoining restaurant La Terrazza dell’Eden, have been a Roman rite of passage. It’s a great place to enjoy a great Italian meal while drinking in the glorious panorama of the eternal city and its seven hills. The restaurant has been a favorite of celebrities, politicians and others. It was also known as Frederico Fellini’s favorite place to catch some Roman sun. The Terrace Bar’s bartender, Lucio Masci, is famous for his mixology skills.

Prague: While it may not have the classic panoramic view, the rooftop bar and restaurant of the Hotel U Prince, which overlooks Prague’s Lesser Town Square, offers a great view of the Astronomical Clock with its hourly ritual dance charting the paths of the sun, the moon and the stars. On the hour, a skeleton rings his bell as the 12 Apostles peer out from their windows.

Please know this list doesn’t presume to be a “Top 10.” Maybe you have favorites of your own in Europe or in other parts of the world. If so, please let me know in your comments below on this column.

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